Will Gavin Newsom run for president in 2024?

How long has Gavin Newsom been governor of California?

The 55-year-old was first elected in November 2018, after serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, as mayor of San Francisco, and as California lieutenant governor. Before going into politics, Newsom was a part of a group of buyers that launched an organization known as PlumpJack Associates, which ultimately opened a vineyard, a number of eating places, resorts, and retail shops.

Why did he face a recall?

Newsom was sworn into office in January 2019, and by February 2020, a recall petition was introduced, with the organizers accusing Newsom of failing to enforce immigration laws, rising taxes, and reducing the quality of life for California residents. The effort stalled, only picking up steam in 2021 when critics accused him of being too strict with COVID-19 lockdown regulations.

Enough signatures have been collected — 1,495,709 — to set a recall election. On Sept. 14, 2021, voters overwhelmingly rejected the recall, with 61.9% of ballots in favor of keeping Newsom in office through the end of his term and 38.1% of ballots in favor of ousting him.

What makes folks assume Newsom is contemplating running for president in 2024?

As the governor of California, which Bloomberg says is poised to overtake Germany as the world’s fourth-largest economy, Newsom has a more recognizable name than many different Democratic governors. Nonetheless, to be president, he’ll need an even greater profile, particularly on the East Coast, with its high focus of voters.

In recent months, he has been taking out tv and newspaper adverts in Florida and Texas, calling out Republican lawmakers like Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) and Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) for passing strict abortion, voting, and educational laws.

Los Angeles Times opinion columnist Anita Chabria thinks Newsom is “standing up for the values of an America under attack,” and he has positioned himself “not just as a viable candidate but as a hero in a time of need, when our democracy is in peril from a bunch of fascist morons in red baseball caps who are apparently willing to do a nouveau Nazi salute with no regrets … His chances, I think, depend on how much that fascism advances or dissipates before 2024.”

Not everybody who’s satisfied Newsom is running for president thinks it will occur in 2024 — if President Biden decides to run for a second term, they imagine Newsom will not put up a challenge, and it is unlikely he’ll go up against Vice President Kamala Harris either. If there may be an open Democratic primary in 2028, the timing would work completely for Newsom, veteran Republican political consultant Sean Walsh told Cal Matters.

By that time, Newsom can be ending his second term and in a position to immediately launch a campaign. “The calendar favors you,” Walsh stated. “So be a good guy, don’t get arrogant. As long as you are the good soldier for the party, let people speculate about what you want. Let all the talk flourish.”

What makes folks assume Newsom is not contemplating running for president?

Some imagine Newsom purchased adverts in Florida and Texas to not market himself, however because he thinks it is essential to counter Republicans, whereas additionally boosting each California and Democrats. “I think Gov. Newsom is doing what he loves to do, which is be part of the national conversation,” Jessica Levinson, a political analyst and professor at Loyola Law, told CBS News in July.

“He also loves to talk about how California is different from other states. We’ve heard this from him before: ‘California is a place where your rights are protected.'” These adverts additionally play effectively in his home state, where they fire up Newsom’s Democratic base and get ample coverage on local news.

What has Newsom stated about running for president?

In the spring, Newsom stated he had “subzero interest” in running for president, and he elaborated on this throughout an interview in September with Politico‘s David Siders, who asked him to clarify why. “Why?” Newsom responded. “Out of reverence for the incumbent president of the USA, Joe Biden. Out of respect for one of my oldest friends, former Californian and colleague, Kamala Harris.

You just begin with those two, and you move on to, I’m focused on other things.” Newsom additionally mentioned the adverts running in other states, saying that at the time of filming the messages, his feeling was, ” what? Let’s take it to these guys.”

Before the November election, Newsom and his Republican opponent, California state Sen. Brian Dahle, held their sole debate in October. Dahle declared it is “obvious” that Newsom is running for president, including, “he’s spending money in other states. He’s not focused on California, and Californians are suffering.” Newsom responded that if was re-elected, he’ll serve out the total four-year term.

Just days before the election, Newsom told CBS News’ Major Garrett “it’s not my ambition” to run for president. “It’s not the direction that I’m leaning into,” he continued. “It’s not the moment.” He additionally informed Garrett he wants Biden to run for re-election in 2024.

“I don’t think there’s been two years of more effective policy-making of a modern American president,” Newsom stated. He praised Biden for doing this “under the circumstance, with all the headwinds, the obfuscation, and opposition. I think it’s been remarkable.”

Might Newsom be planning a run for a different office?

It is possible. Sonja Diaz, director of the Latino Policy and Politics Institute at the University of California Los Angeles, told The Guardian all indicators point to Newsom “setting a course for higher office, after his tenure as governor.” California’s senior senator, Democrat Dianne Feinstein, is now 89 years old, and not anticipated to run for re-election in 2024. It is possible Newsom may try and fill that vacated seat, or search a high-ranking position in a Democratic administration.

“You don’t build a brand overnight,” Bob Shrum, director of the University of Southern California’s Dornsife Center for the Political Future, told Cal Matters. “You build it over time. You can’t time any of this perfectly, because you can’t know what the future is going to bring. So when you have an opportunity to assert a degree of national leadership, then you assert it.”